I have researched internet censorship in American schools and found that there are some pros and cons. Censorship in schools blocks children from viewing pornographic material or material that may be harmful to them. Some educators also believe it helps to protect them against cyber bullying. However, there are many downfalls to internet filtering in schools. Many believe that it takes away the free speech of students and is oppressive. The filters often discriminate against certain minority groups such as LGBT by blocking those types of websites. Internet filters also make it more difficult for students to conduct research because of the large amount of content that is often blocked. The Children's Internet Protection Act requires schools to block pornographic and harmful content in order to recieve funding, but many schools block much more than what is required. Many students have learned how to bypass the filters, which is another negative of internet censorship.